Month: December 2021

Who wouldn’t love to find a tropical paradise that is so filled with extras, you can stay, eat, chill and have fun without having to move a muscle? Chabil Mar makes this commitment to every guest who is weary of having to rush from place to place in order to properly see a foreign country. At less than 9,000 square miles in size, no nearby nation is as easy to navigate.

In addition to being located on the lush Placencia Peninsula – the highly-rated area of Belize that currently charms international travelers – Chabil Mar was one of the first resorts to adhere to the nation’s Gold Standard of excellence program, launched to keep guests safe after the pandemic began spreading. Chabil Mar offers assurances and protocols that combat spread, including social distancing, enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols, and reassurances that add to guest comfort and peace of mind.

Further, this tropical haven is filled with onsite amenities that delight and entertain, regardless of the itinerary visitors wish to pursue. For some, lush gardens dominating the resort are enough to trigger contentment. Others are excited to find that this full-service resort is packed with things to do that include sunning on the sandy beach, swimming in Chabil Mar’s two infinity swimming pools, and enjoying the resort’s kayaks, paddleboards and bicycles.

Nearby Placencia Village can be reached by strolling down the beach where cultural centers, shops, eateries, bars, and cafés are fun to visit, but to be honest, Chabil Mar guests tend to be blissfully content hanging out on resort grounds, in great part due to the property’s stunning accommodations. Sea views, elegant furnishings, and private verandas are a few of the features that charm guests – especially once they see photos of these luxe digs!

Treat yourself to a Belize vacation package so you don’t have to make a single decision during your stay. Delicious meals prepared by Chef Daniel at the resort’s al fresco restaurant are included and whether your idea of fine dining happens to be beachside, poolside, your veranda, Chabil Mar’s private pier, or the Kaleidoscope Bar and Lounge, you can change venues every night and never leave the property!

For adventurous souls who wouldn’t think of visiting Belize without taking advantage of the nation’s activities, attractions, and cultural sites, Chabil Mar’s tour menu is unique because the resort partners with guides who specialize in hot spots. Choose a package that fulfills your desire to do the things you love or experiences you haven’t tried: Roam ancient Maya ruins, fish, snorkel, dive, sail or undertake a personal exploration of your soul by opting for the Yoga Retreat.

You wouldn’t be the first guest to say that there are just too many choices, but that’s the objective, weary traveler! It’s your vacation – perhaps the first you’ve taken in so long, it’s hard to recall when you last got away. Reason enough to ask for everything you want and need. Chabil Mar specializes in customization so this won’t be like any vacation you’ve taken in the past – and isn’t that exactly what you need right now?

For more information about Belize, feel free to chat with our Concierge at concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll-free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377 or WhatsApp us at +501-633-7547.  

Belize has long been a birder’s best-kept secret. In fact, some people say that if you’re not a birder when you arrive in Belize, you’ll be one by the time you leave. 

Almost half of the land in Belize is managed as reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and protected habitats. Many are managed by the Belize Audubon Society and these protected areas provide a rich diversity of natural ecosystems where birds thrive. 

Southern Belize is the primary location for bird lovers looking for keel-billed toucans, ringed and pygmy kingfishers, pale-billed woodpeckers, squirrel cuckoos, pygmy owls, hummingbirds, keel-billed motmots, scarlet macaws and every species of parrot and parakeet imaginable. And don’t forget our local chachalaca birds, purple gallinules, spotted sandpipers, black catbirds and the list goes on and on. 

What’s more, you’ll see all of these marvelous birds in settings that are breathtakingly beautiful. The following are some prime birding spots in southern Belize. 

Red Bank Village

Red Bank is a Maya village located near Placencia. The community is a favorite hangout of vivid, fast-flying scarlet macaws that flock here to find food. For the past 10 years, the village has cooperated with conservation groups to monitor and protect the macaws. Sadly, scarlet macaws are endangered, so this is a rare opportunity to spot these beautiful birds in their natural habitat. 

Aguacaliente

Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary protects more than 6000 acres of wetlands ecosystems. Getting there requires a two-hour hike from the village of Laguna in Toledo District. In the lagoons, you’ll see egrets, herons, wood storks, flycatchers, ibis and kingfishers. You might see jabiru storks, another rare and endangered species. It’s a good idea to visit Aguacaliente with a guide. 

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world’s first jaguar preserve and an important watershed conservation area. You’ll see a huge variety of animals, plants, and birds here, including white-collared manikins, crimson-collared and masked tanagers, bat falcons and more. 

Sir Thomas at Toucan Sittee

Sir Thomas at Toucan Sittee is located in southern Belize. It is s privately-owned bird sanctuary where one birder reported seeing 100 different species in an hour. The top birds you will encounter at this location include kingfishers, hummingbirds, toucans, and parakeets. 

If you’re already packing your bags and binoculars, make sure you book your stay at Chabil Mar. Our resort offers luxury accommodations in Placencia Village and our “Treasures of the Sky” Belize birding package provides guided tours led by local experts to top birding spots in the country.